It's something of a conundrum with Arsenal fans as to what exactly Arsene Wenger is trying to do with the Gunner's squad. There has been a desperate need for defenders and an accompanying defensive midfielder for some time now, but instead of tending to such fragilities the Professor, as Wenger is affectionately known, appears to have the same lingering eyesight issue here as he develops when something controversial happens regarding his team; he just doesn't see it. Thus, the gaps which need plugging remain untended to, and it appears instead, another attacking player will enter the fold.
With Yaya Sanogo seemingly on his way to Bordeaux and Lukas Podolski heading to Italy, albeit both on loan, there is certainly space available up front given Arsenal's presence in both the Champions League and the F.A Cup, as well as the league, but with Joel Campbell and Chuba Akpom on the fringes of the first team vying for their chance, Campbell on the back of an excellent world cup and Akpom having performed exceptionally in the academy last year (15 goals from 23 appearances constitutes an impressive return), surely they could be utilised in order to rest Alexis Sanchez et al in games such as the upcoming match at Brighton & Hove Albion?
Then there's the cost. £50 million seems to be the figure doing the rounds as enough to coax the Uruguayan PSG player away from the French capital, but with wages on top it could put quite a dent in the Emirates reserve coffers, not least because the likes of Theo Walcott and Giroud would start looking at their own wages and grumble at the discrepancies between his and Cavani's / Ozil's / Alexis Sanchez's. Arsenal changed their wage structure with the signing of Ozil, that much is certain, but as a club which is uncertain of Champions League football next season, they have to be fiscally shrewd, something which Wenger is a master at.
The prospect of Cavani at Arsenal partnering with Alexis and Giroud is mouthwatering. If a player such as Walcott had to be moved on in order to make it happen it would make for very good business by the Arsenal board and with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting to look like the finished article there is a similar player available and ready-made to fill Theo's shoes, with a stronger physique and arguably a better footballing brain to boot.
However, until Arsenal's defensive issues are fixed, the question still remains: Why would a player of Cavani's calibre choose to head to North London, a destination which doesn't look like competing at the very top level for trophies? With that in mind, irrespective of the speculative reports around the press, I just can't see it happening.
Source: DSG
